HCPSSHCPSS Kickoff to Build On School/Family/Community Relationships, Aug. 16, 2025
July 3rd, 2025
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will host a Family Academy Kickoff on Saturday, Aug. 16 from 9 a.m.-noon at Guilford Park High School, 8500 Ridgelys Run Road, Jessup. The districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:
- An informative session with HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes
- Resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations
- Information on programs, resources and services available throughout the school year
Child care and language access will be provided.
“Our goal is to create a space where every family feels connected, informed, and empowered,” said Dr. Shereé M. Tilley-Whitaker, coordinator of the HCPSS Office of Student Access & Achievement. “This event reflects our district’s commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with families and ensuring all students have the support they need to thrive.”
Registration is encouraged via online form listed below.
For more information about the event or to get involved, contact Dr. Shereé Tilley-Whitaker at sheree_tilley-whitaker@hcpss.org or 410-313-6804.
Participating HCPSS offices/programs include:
- Advanced Programs
- Discover ways your student can explore their interests, develop their strengths, and express their voice through K-12 Advanced Programs.
- Learn how your student can become involved in a variety of offerings that enrich and extend their learning — whether developing creative thinking strategies in a Primary Talent Development lesson, implementing engineering practices in a STEM Seminar, or conducting original research in the Advanced Research courses.
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Learn how to get free early intervention services for children from birth to age five with developmental delays or disabilities
- Learn how to apply for the Learning Together Program for 3-year-olds
- Special Education
- Learn how the special education process works, including the referral process and what services are available
- Career & Technical Education
- Office of Pupil Personnel Services
- Dual Enrollment & Postsecondary Access
- Learn how students can access comprehensive career counseling in middle and high school through the HCPSS NextStep Program
- Learn how students can learn more about JumpStart Dual Enrollment to earn college credits as early as 8th grade
Additional local participating organizations include:
- Autism Society of Maryland
- Backpack Healthcare
- Bridges to Housing Stability
- Bright Minds Foundation
- CAC of Howard County
- Columbia Community Care
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention
- HC DrugFree
- HopeWorks of Howard County
- Howard Community College
- Howard County Chinese School
- Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services
- Howard County Education Federal Credit Union
- Howard County Health Department
- Howard County Library System
- Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity
- Howard County SECAC
- Lambda Gamma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated
- Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center
- Maryland Coalition of Families
- Maryland Legal Aid
- Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center
- NAMI Howard County
- Ohana of Howard County
- PTA Council of Howard County
- The Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County
- TurnAround, Inc.
- Zeta Alpha Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated